Down and/or up force adjustment system

ABSTRACT

An agricultural device includes a number of row units that each includes a seed furrow opener that creates a furrow in the soil for seed placement. Each row unit is mounted to a toolbar of the device by way of a four-bar linkage which allows each row unit to move vertically to adjust to the contour of the soil independently of the other row units on the same toolbar. The four-bar linkages include one or more springs which work to transfer weight from the toolbar to the row unit. An actuator varies the tension in the spring thereby adjusting the down or up force applied to the row unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation Application of U.S. Ser. No.13/457,815 filed Apr. 27, 2012, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C.§119 to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 61/479,540, filed Apr.27, 2011, 61/479,537, filed Apr. 27, 2011, and 61/479,543, filed Apr.27, 2011, all of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to agricultural devices and, moreparticularly, to down force adjustment of a row unit of an agriculturaldevice.

BACKGROUND

Implements for planting row crops, such as corn and soybeans, (planters)typically include row units laterally spaced along a frame, or toolbar.The row units generally include a seed channel opener that creates achannel or furrow in the soil for seed placement. Each row unit ismounted to the toolbar by means of a four-bar linkage or its equivalentwhich allows each row unit to move vertically to adjust to the contourof the soil independently of the other row units on the same toolbar.Some planters have springs in the four-bar linkage which work totransfer weight from the planter's frame to the row unit creating downforce to help the seed channel opener penetrate the soil and to minimizerow unit bounce in rough soil conditions. Insufficient down force canresult in a seed furrow of inadequate depth or a seed furrow simply notformed, which in turn results in shallow seed placement or seedplacement on the soil surface. However, too much down force could overlycompact the seed bed or form the seed furrow too deep, which couldnegatively affect early plant development. Furthermore, excessive downforce could accelerate wear on the row units' soil-engaging components.The springs can be adjusted to adjust the down force of the row unit.This adjustment usually is made by manually changing the position of thesprings in the four-bar linkage.

In other planters, airbags are employed in the four-bar linkage whichare similarly adapted to transfer weight from the planter's frame to therow unit creating down force to help the seed channel opener penetratethe soil and to minimize row unit bounce. In both of these conventionalbiasing means—springs and airbags—the system lacks accuracy andpredictability. For instance, when the biasing means is an airbag, itcan be difficult to precisely determine the volume of air in the airbagat a given time and, subsequently, determine needed supplemental downforce.

It is desirable to be able to adjust down force on a row unit quicklyand accurately so that a consistent seed depth is maintained. It is alsodesirable to be able to lift the row unit if its own weight is applyingtoo much down force to the soil.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide for aquick and accurate adjustment of the down force on a row unit duringplanting.

It is another object of the present invention to provide the capabilityto put both positive and negative pressure on the row unit.

These and other objects are achieved by the present invention. In someexemplary aspects of the present invention, a row unit of a planter isprovided. The row unit is mounted to a toolbar of a planter by means ofa four-bar linkage having a set of top and bottom parallel arms. Atleast one spring is provided between the top and bottom arms andconnected at one end to the bottom arm in a fixed manner at a connectionpoint. The other end of the spring is connected to a spring mount thatis disposed on the top arm and coupled to an electric actuator. Thespring mount is longitudinally movable in both directions of the toparm. The electric actuator moves the spring mount forward and backwardalong the top arm, which adjusts the down or up force placed on the rowunit, which in turn can increase or decrease the soil penetration of aseed channel opener component of the row unit, and keep the row unitfrom bouncing in rough soil conditions.

In other exemplary aspects, an agricultural device is provided andincludes a toolbar, a row unit, a linkage coupling the row unit to thetoolbar, wherein the linkage includes a first arm and a second arm, andwherein each of the first arm and the second arm includes a first endcoupled to the toolbar and a second end coupled to the row unit, anactuator coupled to the toolbar, and a biasing member coupled to thelinkage and the actuator, wherein the actuator is adapted to move thebiasing member to vary an amount of force applied to the row unit.

In further exemplary aspects, a row unit adjustment system for use in anagricultural planter for planting seeds is provided. The agriculturalplanter includes a toolbar and a row unit coupled to the toolbar by alinkage. The row unit adjustment system includes an actuator includingan adjustment member, a biasing member coupled to the linkage and theadjustment member, a sensor adapted to sense a characteristic associatedwith planting seeds and generate a signal associated with the sensedcharacteristic, and a processing unit receiving the signal associatedwith the sensed characteristic and determining whether adjustment of thebiasing member is necessary based on the signal.

In still other exemplary aspects, a method for adjusting a force appliedto a row unit of an agricultural planter is provided. The agriculturalplanter includes a toolbar and the row unit includes a linkage couplingthe row unit to the agricultural planter. The method includes providingan actuator including an adjustment member, coupling a biasing member ata first end to the linkage and at a second end to the adjustment member,sensing a characteristic associated with planting with a sensor,generating a signal associated with the characteristic with the sensor,communicating the signal to a processing unit, and adjusting a positionof the biasing member with the actuator based on the signal received bythe processing unit in order to adjust a force applied to the row unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The appended claims set forth those novel features which characterizethe invention. However, the invention itself, as well as further objectsand advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description of an exemplary embodiment, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, where like referencecharacters identify the elements throughout the various figures inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a portion of an exemplary planter rowunit, the exemplary row unit including an exemplary down forceadjustment system;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view similar to FIG. 1 showing a down forcespring of an exemplary down force adjustment system adjusted to providea negative down force on the row unit;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 showing a downforce spring of an exemplary down force adjustment system adjusted toprovide a positive down force on the row unit;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary system diagram of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of a portion of an exemplary planter rowunit including an exemplary soil characteristic sensor.

Before any independent features and embodiments of the invention areexplained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of the construction and thearrangement of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in variousways. Also, it is understood that the phraseology and terminology usedherein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded aslimiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The contents of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/458,012, filed Apr.27, 2012, entitled “AGRICULTURAL DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FORDETERMINING SOIL AND SEED CHARACTERISTICS AND ANALYZING THE SAME”, andU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/457,577, filed Apr. 27, 2012,entitled “REMOTE ADJUSTMENT OF A ROW UNIT OF AN AGRICULTURAL DEVICE”,are both incorporated herein by reference.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a side elevation view of anexemplary planter row unit 10 in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention. A single row unit 10 is depicted in the figures anddescribed herein for simplicity, but it is understood that a typicalplanter 36 (see FIG. 4) includes multiple row units 10. Row unit 10includes a frame 12. Mounted to the lower section of frame 12 are a pairof furrow-opening discs 14 (one of which is seen in FIGS. 1-3), a pairof depth gauge wheels 16 (one of which is seen in FIGS. 1-3) and a pairof furrow closing wheels (not shown). As is known, seed is stored in ahopper (not shown), fed to and “singulated” by a meter (not shown) anddeposited at desired spacing in the furrow formed by the furrow-openingdiscs 14. The furrow is then closed and soil is packed about the seed bythe closing wheels.

The row unit 10 is mounted to a toolbar (not shown) by a conventionalfour-bar linkage 18. Four-bar linkage 18 includes parallel top arms 20(one of which is seen in FIGS. 1-3) and parallel bottom arms 22 (one ofwhich is seen in FIGS. 1-3) on each side of the row unit 10. The forwardends of the top arms 20 are pivotally connected to an upper portion of amounting plate 24. Likewise, the forward ends of the bottom arms 22 arepivotally connected to a lower portion of the mounting plate 24.Mounting plate 24 is in turn coupled to the toolbar. A conventionalmounting arrangement for attaching the mounting plate 24 to the toolbarwould typically include threaded U-shaped bolts and mounting nuts whichare not shown in the drawing for simplicity. The rear ends of top andbottom arms 20 and 22 are pivotally connected to row unit frame 12.

The top and bottom arms 20 and 22 are connected to both the mountingplate 24 and row unit frame 12 by means of a nut and bolt combinationwhich allows the top and bottom arms 20 and 22 to pivot at both ends.The four-bar linkage 18 permits the row unit 10 to move vertically,independently of adjacent row units, while remaining laterally in placeon the toolbar.

At least one linear actuator 26 is mounted to the mounting plate 24above a top arm 20 of the linkage 18. In other exemplary embodiments, alinear actuator 26 may be provided above each top arm 20 of the linkage18. Linear actuator 26 can be of an electric, hydraulic or air type,having a shaft 28 that extends longitudinally parallel to the top arm20. A mounting bracket 30 is provided on top arm 20 and coupled to theshaft 28. The mounting bracket 30 engages and is supported by a topsurface of top arm 20 and may slide, roll, or otherwise move along thetop surface of the top arm 20. During up and down movement of the rowunit 10, shaft 28 pivots about pin or pivot 29 to maintain the shaft 28substantially parallel to the top arm 20. At least one biasing member 32under tension is provided between top and bottom arms 20, 22. In theillustrated exemplary embodiment, the biasing member 32 is a spring orcoil spring. However, it should be understood that the biasing member 32may be any type of biasing member and other types of springs and stillbe within the intended spirit and scope of the present invention. Inexemplary embodiments including an actuator 26 above each top arm 20,two tension springs 32 may be included in the linkage 18 with one spring32 coupled to each actuator 26. In other exemplary embodiments, oneactuator 26 and two springs 32 may be included in the linkage 18 withone spring 32 coupled to the actuator 26 and the second spring 32coupled to and between the top and bottom arms 20, 22. In theillustrated exemplary embodiment, the spring 32 is connected at a lowerend to the bottom arm 22 at a fixed point and at an upper end to themounting bracket 30 on the top arm 20. The tension applied across thetension spring 20 may be varied to adjust the tension on spring 32 andthus the amount of weight transferred from the toolbar to the row unit10 by extending or retracting the shaft 28 of the actuator 26, which inturn will move the mounting bracket 30 forward or rearward along the toparm 20. Alternatively, the actuator 26 may be a screw-drive typeactuator 26, and the shaft 28 and the mounting bracket 30 may have ascrew or threaded engagement between the two components, thereby causingthe mounting bracket to translate along the shaft 28 as the shaft 28rotates. The shaft 28 may rotate either direction to enable the mountingbracket 30 to translate in either direction.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, dt denotes the distance between theproximal pivot point of the top arm 20 and the mounting bracket 30,which is the connection point of the upper end of the spring 32, and dbdenotes the distance between the proximal pivot point of the bottom arm22 and the fixed connection point of the lower end of the spring 32. Asshown in FIG. 1, when dt and db are the same, the spring 32 is in aneutral position where the net effect on the force applied to the soilFg is zero. As shown in FIG. 2, when the actuator 26 retracts the shaft28, the mounting bracket 30 is moved to a position closer to theproximal pivot point of top arm 20. In this position the spring 32 is ina negative, or up force position in which dt is less than db, and wherea net negative force will be put on the row unit 10 which decreases theforce applied to the soil by the furrow-opening discs 14.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the actuator 26 extends the shaft 28, themounting bracket 30 is moved to a position further from the proximalpivot point of top arm 20. In this position, the spring 32 is in apositive, or down force position in which dt is greater than db, andwhere a net positive force will be applied to the row unit 10. Thisincreases the force that is applied to the soil by the furrow-openingdiscs 14.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1-3, an exemplary sensor 34 isprovided to sense or determine a position of the biasing member 32. Inthe illustrated exemplary embodiment, the sensor 34 is coupled to themounting plate 24. In other exemplary embodiments, the sensor 34 may becoupled to any portion of the toolbar, linkage 18, row unit 10, etc. andstill be within the intended spirit and scope of the present invention.The sensor 34 may be any type of sensor for determining a position ofthe biasing member 32. For example, the sensor 34 may be an ultrasonicsensor, a laser sensor, a potentiometer, a hall effect sensor, or anyother type of sensor. In other exemplary embodiments, the sensor 34 maybe coupled to or included within the actuator 26 and may be a widevariety of types of sensors such as, for example, a potentiometer, ahall effect sensor, etc.

The actuator 26 is controlled by conventional means via a user interface40, which can be in the cab of a tractor 38 that pulls the planter 36and row units 10 through a field. In this way, a farmer can adjust downforce on the row unit 10 quickly and accurately so that furrow-openingdiscs 14 can maintain a consistent furrow depth, or the farmer can liftthe row unit 10 if its own weight is applying too much down force to thesoil.

Referring now to FIG. 4, an exemplary system of the present invention isillustrated and includes a tractor 38 and a planter 36. The tractor 38includes a control system 39 including a user interface 40 with anoptional touch screen 42 and associated touch screen capabilities, aprocessing unit 44, an optional mechanical control panel 46, and amemory 48. The tractor 38 also includes a tractor electrical powersource 50. The planter 36 includes multiple row units 10, however, sincethe row units 10 are substantially identical, only one row unit 10 isillustrated with further detail and described herein. Each row unit 10includes a down force adjustment assembly including the actuator 26, thebiasing member position sensor 34, a down force sensor 52, and a soilcharacteristic sensor 54 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). Each row unit 10 mayinclude an optional row unit electrical power source 56 and the planter36 further includes a planter electrical power source 58. In otherexemplary embodiments, the planter 36 may include a processing unitand/or the row units 10 may each include a processing unit and theprocessing unit(s) of the planter 36 and/or the row units 10 maycommunicate with the processing unit 44 of the tractor 38 via acommunication bus.

The down force sensor 52 may be, for example, a force transducer that iscoupled to a depth-adjusting lever mechanism 60 (see FIG. 5) or thegauge wheels 16 for monitoring and/or measuring a down force occurringin the depth-adjusting mechanism 60 or the gauge wheels 16 and appliedto the row unit 10 to force the row unit 10 downward toward the soil.The down force sensor 52 may be any type of sensor such as, for example,a load cell, a pressure sensor, a potentiometer, etc., and may becoupled to any portion of the row unit 10 as long as it can operateappropriately to sense a down force. Such a force sensor 52 may beelectronically coupled to the processing unit 44 to enable theprocessing unit 44 to take readings of the down force and displayrelated information to a user via the user interface 40 or to enable theprocessing unit 44 to communicate with the necessary components toadjust the down force.

With further reference to FIG. 5, an exemplary soil characteristicsensor 54 is illustrated and may be coupled to the row unit 10 in anymanner and at any location as long as the sensor 54 can sense desiredsoil characteristic(s). The soil characteristic sensor 54 may sense anysoil characteristic and operate in any of the manners described in U.S.Provisional Patent Application Nos. 61/479,537 and 61/479,543, both ofwhich were filed Apr. 27, 2011 and both of which are incorporated hereinby reference.

All of the sensors may generate a signal associated with thecharacteristic they are sensing and communicate with the processing unitso the processing unit may receive the signals, interpret the signals,and react accordingly to perform the desired functions of the system.

It should be understood that the sensors described and illustratedherein may be any type of sensor and be within the intended spirit andscope of the present invention. Exemplary sensors include, but are notlimited to, ultrasonic sensors, laser sensors, video cameras, infra-redsensors, infra-red cameras, infra-red scanners, microwave sensors,potentiometers, hall effect sensors, force transducers, etc.

The foregoing description has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the invention to the precise form disclosed. The descriptions wereselected to explain the principles of the invention and their practicalapplication to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the inventionin various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated. Although particular constructions of thepresent invention have been shown and described, other alternativeconstructions will be apparent to those skilled in the art and arewithin the intended scope of the present invention.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have beenillustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in therelevant arts that changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aimin the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modificationsthat fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. The mattersset forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings isoffered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. The actualscope of the invention is intended to be defined in the following claimswhen viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.

What is claimed is:
 1. An agricultural planter, comprising: a toolbar; arow unit; a linkage coupling the row unit to the toolbar, wherein thelinkage includes at least one arm, and wherein the at least one armincludes a first end coupled to the toolbar and a second end coupled tothe row unit; an actuator coupled to the toolbar; a biasing membercoupled to the linkage and the actuator, wherein the actuator is adaptedto move the biasing member to vary an amount of force applied to the rowunit; and an adjustment system for determining both the force applied tothe row unit and a characteristic of at least a portion of soil uponwhich the row unit travels.
 2. The agricultural planter of claim 1,wherein the adjustment system comprises a first sensor adapted to sensethe force applied to the row unit, and a second sensor adapted to sensethe characteristic of a soil upon which the row unit travels.
 3. Theagricultural planter of claim 2, further comprising a third sensoradapted to sense a position of the biasing member.
 4. The agriculturalplanter of claim 3, wherein the sensor generates a signal associatedwith the position of the biasing member.
 5. The agricultural planter ofclaim 4, further comprising a processing unit in communication with thesensors to receive the signals and determine whether adjustment of thebiasing member is necessary based on the signals.
 6. The agriculturalplanter of claim 5, further comprising a user interface in communicationwith the processing unit, and wherein any necessary adjustment requiredis communicated to the user interface by the processing unit and isdisplayed on the user interface.
 7. The agricultural planter of claim 5,wherein the processing unit communicates with the actuator toautomatically adjust the biasing member based on the signal.
 8. Theagricultural planter of claim 2, wherein the first sensor adapted tosense a force applied to the row unit comprises a load cell, a pressuresensor, a potentiometer, or some combination thereof.
 9. Theagricultural planter of claim 8, wherein the second sensor generates asignal associated with the characteristic of the soil, and theagricultural planter further comprising a processing unit incommunication with the second sensor to receive the signal and determinewhether adjustment of the biasing member is necessary based on thesignal.
 10. The agricultural planter of claim 9, wherein thecharacteristic of the soil is one of soil temperature, moisture contentof soil, depth of a furrow, and soil type.
 11. A method of adjusting aforce applied to a row unit of an agricultural planter, the agriculturalplanter including a toolbar and the row unit including a linkagecoupling the row unit to the agricultural planter, the methodcomprising: providing an actuator including an adjustment member;coupling a biasing member at a first end to the linkage and at a secondend to the adjustment member; sensing a plurality of characteristicsassociated with planting with at least one sensor, said characteristicsincluding at least one characteristics associated with a portion of soilupon which the row unit travels; generating a signal associated with thecharacteristics sensed by the at least one sensor; communicating thesignal to a processing unit; and adjusting a position of the biasingmember with the actuator based on the signal received by the processingunit in order to adjust a force applied to the row unit.
 12. The methodof claim 11, further comprising displaying information associated withthe signal on a user interface.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein thestep of adjusting a position of the biasing member with the actuatoroccurs automatically based upon predetermined values.
 14. The method ofclaim 12, wherein the step of adjusting a position of the biasing memberfurther includes manually adjusting a position of the biasing memberafter reviewing information associated with the signal on the userinterface.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of sensing aplurality of characteristics associated with planting includes the useof a plurality of sensors.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein sensing aplurality of characteristics includes sensing multiple of a position ofthe biasing member, a plurality of characteristics of soil upon whichthe agricultural planter travels, and a force applied to the row unit.17. A row unit adjustment system for use with an agricultural planterfor planting seeds, the agricultural planter including a toolbar and atleast one row unit coupled to the toolbar, the row unit adjustmentsystem comprising: an actuator operatively connected to the row unit; abiasing member operatively connected to the linkage and the actuator;and a plurality of sensors, wherein each sensor adapted to sense aseparate characteristic associated with planting seeds and to generate asignal associated with each of the sensed characteristics; wherein atleast one of the characteristics associated with planting seedscomprises a characteristics of soil.
 18. The row unit adjustment systemof claim 17, further comprising a processing unit receiving the signalsassociated with the sensed characteristics and determining whetheradjustment of the biasing member is necessary based on the signals. 19.The row unit adjustment system of claim 17, wherein a firstcharacteristic is a position of the biasing member and the signal isassociated with the position of the biasing member.
 20. The row unitadjustment system of claim 19, wherein a characteristic of the soil isone of soil temperature, moisture content of soil, depth of a furrow,and soil type.